Ed-Flex is a program that allows the Secretary of Education to delegate to states with strong accountability safeguards the authority to waive certain federal education requirements (Programs Covered by the Ed-Flex Authority) that may, in particular instances, impede local efforts to reform and improve education. It is designed to help districts and schools carry out educational reforms and raise the achievement levels of all children by providing increased flexibility in the implementation of federal education programs in exchange for enhanced accountability for the performance of students.

Ed-Flex is not a funding program. Rather, it is a program that delegates to states the authority to grant waivers of certain federal requirements.